THE LORD FAMILY

The Lords of Brooksville, Maine, are the descendants of Robert Lord, an English emigrant, who came from Sudbury, Parish of St. Gregory, County of Suffolk, England, to New England in 1635 and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was made freeman of the Colony of Massachusetts 1635-6, was Representative, Deputy to the General Court in 1637-8, was Clerk of the Writs, and Marshal of the Ipswich Court, Register of Deeds and of Probate from his first appointment until his decease, a long tenure of office almost unparalleled in the Office Holdings of New England.

He was familiar with the art of surveying, was frequently called upon to lay out lots, and was a highly esteemed, useful and upright man.

He married Mary Waite, and the record of this marriage can be found in the Parish Church of Finchingfield in the County of Essex, England, not far from Sudbury, in the County of Suffolk.

The family of Waite was highly distinguished. Samuel Waite, the father-in-law of Robert, married Mary Ward of one of the most distinguished families of England and of New England.

Jeremiah Lord, fourth generation of Robert, re moved from Ipswich, his native town, at an early age to the Isles of Shoals and thence down east as far as Castine, Maine, as given in the Dictatum of his eldest brother, Lt. Philip-Lord, who compiled the Genealogical Chart as before mentioned to Nathaniel Lord Esq., the Register of Deeds and Probate, Essex County, Massachusetts, before 1816.

Capt. John Lord, Master Mariner, son of Jere miah, married Olive Stover of York, Maine. Seven children were born unto them: Betsey, Isaiah, Abigail, John, Louisa, Peggie, and Olive.

John, the son of Capt. John, and the sixth In line from Robert, the English migrant, born In Brooksville, 1809, married Sarah Bowden of Penobscot. Their children: Nelson, Isaiah, Thurston, Newton, Sewall, William, Edward, and Nancy. All of the boys except William followed the sea and became Masters.

Isaiah retired from sea life early and became a merchant.

Captain Nelson was regarded as one of the best Navigators on the seaboard. He was shipwrecked once in the Gulf of Mexico. The crew was forced to take to an open boat six hundred miles from the nearest point of land. After days of hardship they at last reached a port of safety.

Captain Thurston Lord always led the fleet to and from the coal ports. After sailing the sea for forty years without disaster, at last the "old debble sea" got him; he was drowned off Cape Cod in a storm.

Isaiah sailed the schooner Day Spring. At one time he, with a large fleet of coasters loaded with lumber bound for Boston, were caught in the home port by one of those long fog spells which often lay along the Maine coast for days. When at last clearing weather came with an off shore wind, it came Sunday morning. The whole fleet sailed except the Day Spring. The Captain remained home and attended church with his family as was his custom. He was criticized by the more realistic folk for allowing a "fair wind to blow away" while he remained to pray. Early Monday morning there was just wind enough to fan the Day Spring out of the harbor down the bay into the open sea where she struck the wind contrary. The captain stood far out to sea then, in land, and under a favorable land breeze reached Boston, slipped into a waiting berth, discharged cargo, and sailed back home. Early Saturday, following, a light vessel was discovered sailing around Nautilus Island into the bay; old sea captains recognized her as the Day Spring. So without missing a Sunday service the captain was home and at church with his family, leaving the fleet of coasters far behind.

All were skilful, reliable, and honorable men.

Nancy married James Smith, born in England, who was a sailor in the English Navy and in the famous naval battle of Sevastopol.

The Brooksville Lords of today have migrated into other towns and states and settled with their families. On account of the decline of shipping they have pursued other means of livelihood with a degree of success, and are worthy descendants of a noble ancestry.

The Lord Court of Arms: "He beareth Azure". A half moon between three lions' heads with "By the Name of Lord".

These arms quartered and granted in the 8th year of King James (which would be about 1611) to Sir Robert Lord of Brille Brick Park Co., England, February 20th. A true copy attested by James Coates of Boston, Hearldry Painter, February 5, 1797.

By Rev. Wilmot Perkins Lord,

Darien, Connecticut, May 21, 1936